Detergent-Resistant Membrane Microdomains Facilitate Ib Oligomer Formation and Biological Activity of Clostridium perfringens Iota-Toxin

Abstract

Clostridium perfringens iota-toxin consists of two separate proteins identified as a cell binding protein, iota b (Ib), which forms high-molecular-weight complexes on cells generating Na(+)/K(+)-permeable pores through which iota a (Ia), an ADP-ribosyltransferase, presumably enters the cytosol. Identity of the cell receptor and membrane domains involved in Ib binding, oligomer formation, and internalization is currently unknown. In this study, Vero (toxin-sensitive) and MRC-5 (toxin-resistant) cells were incubated with Ib, after which detergent-resistant membrane microdomains (DRMs) were extracted with cold Triton X-100. Western blotting revealed that Ib oligomers localized in DRMs extracted from Vero, but not MRC-5, cells while monomeric Ib was detected in the detergent-soluble fractions of both cell types. The Ib protoxin, previously shown to bind Vero cells but not form oligomers or induce cytotoxicity, was detected only in the soluble fractions. Vero cells pretreated with phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C before addition of Ib indicated that glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-anchored proteins were minimally involved in Ib binding or oligomer formation. While pretreatment of Vero cells with filipin (which sequesters cholesterol) had no effect, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (which extracts cholesterol) reduced Ib binding and oligomer formation and delayed iota-toxin cytotoxicity. These studies showed that iota-toxin exploits DRMs for oligomer formation to intoxicate cells.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2004
Accession Number
ADA426747

Entities

People

  • Bradley G. Stiles
  • Jean-christophe Marvaud
  • Martha L Hale
  • Michael R. Popoff

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical And Dental Materials
  • Biomedical Research
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cell Membrane
  • Cell Membrane Structures
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Chemistry
  • Cholesterol
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Immune Serums
  • Molecular Weight
  • Oligomers
  • Polymeric Films
  • Proteins

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Computer science

Readers

  • Marine Propulsion Engineering and Naval Architecture
  • Microbial Pathology
  • Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry